Bhubaneswar, Mar 5: Odisha remembered freedom fighter, daredevil pilot, and former chief minister Bijayananda Patnaik, popularly knowns as Biju Patnaik on his 108th birth anniversary today.

Biju Patnaik birthday is observed as 'Panchayati Raj Diwas' in Odisha.

A brave and a revolutionary leader, Biju Patnaik was born to Laxminarayan and Ashalata Patnaik on March 5, 1916, at Cuttack in Odisha. 

After passing out with a degree in Aeronautics from the Aeronautical Training Institute of India, Biju patnaik started his career with the Indian National Airways.

He was imprisoned in 1945 for taking part in the Quit India Movement. Later, Biju babu also played a prominent role in the Nepalese democratic movement and Indonesia’s struggle for freedom from the Dutch rule. 

For his exemplary contribution to the Indonesian freedom struggle, he was conferred with the highest civilian award in Indonesia titled ‘Bhumi Putra’.

Biju Babu served as the Chief Minister of Odisha from 1961 to 1963 and again from 1990 to 1995 and had drawn the blueprint for development of Odisha and welfare of people.
 

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